A native of Whitehall, Senator Maharath chose to dedicate her life to public service at a young age, inspired by her upbringing as the daughter of refugee parents.
Senator Maharath is the first Asian-American woman elected to the Ohio Senate. She serves as the ranking member of the local government committee.
She has helped organize Columbus' annual Asian Festival, served on the Lao Volunteer Donation Association's advisory board and on the organizing committee for Ohio's Asian American and Pacific Islander Legislative Day.